Proper People - Early Asylum Life
- enables the reader to travel back to the early nineteenth century to meet some of the mentally ill patients who passed through Yorkshire’s West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Wakefield

Pages

Thursday, 22 September 2016

Wellcome Library's "Anonymous Patients" Become Proper People

When
doing the research for my book, Proper
People. Early Asylum Life in the Words of Those Who Were There it was
always a very special “gold nugget” moment to turn a page in one of the early volumes
of original case notes and find myself looking at a photograph of the person
who had been a patient in the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum (WRPLA),
Wakefield. The earliest photographs in the records date from around 1868 but it
would be many years before all patients were routinely photographed.Today,
outside of the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) in Wakefield, there are
two collections of similarly styled photographs of WRPLA patients annotated
with apparently diagnostic phrases such as “Mania of Suspicion” or “Mono-mania
of Pride”. The majority of the photographs are held by the Darwin
Correspondence Project (DCP) at Cambridge University and another thirteen
survive in the collection of the Wellcome Library, London.The
DCP photographs were originally sent to naturalist Charles Darwin by the
Superintendent of the WRPLA in Wakefield, England, James Crichton-Browne, ahead
of and after Darwin’s publication of The Expression of the Emotions in Man
and Animals in 1872. This collection holds 30 WRPLA patients’ portraits,
one photograph annotated “The Insane Ear” and five other photographs. A group
photograph, thought to be a montage, has been credited to being that of a
family of patients held in the Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries and a
photograph of a female patient with “large” hair is also believed to have
originated elsewhere. Three unannotated portraits are of a style unlike any of
the myriad of WRPLA patients’ photographs from those times suggesting to me that
Crichton-Browne had also obtained those from another source.In
recent years these photographs have been referenced by essayists and authors.
In Darwin’s Camera Phillip Prodger writes about Darwin’s use of art and
photography in the theory of evolution. One of the photographs from the DCP
used by Phillip was that of William DENTON who also features in Proper
People. William’s second photograph is
reproduced here courtesy of WYAS.

William DENTON, c 1869

William
DENTON was a 37 year old unmarried plasterer from George Street, Sheffield
before being admitted in May, 1865, suffering from dementia. He was in weak
health, had a double hernia and it was thought he showed some symptoms of
General Paralysis.Ahead
of his admission, surgeon James Walker had examined William and classed him “an
idiotic lunatic”. He reported that William had twice attempted suicide, was
very excitable, violent and broke furniture.William
was removed to the South Yorkshire Asylum, Sheffield in 1872 where the
following year he passed away following surgery for a strangulated hernia.There
will be more about the Cambridge collection of WRPLA patients’ photographs in
later posts but for now let’s look more closely at the Wellcome Library
portraits.Stassa
Edwards in her excellent 2015 essay The
Naturalist and the Neurologist: On Charles Darwin and James Crichton-Brownereferring to the photographs sent by
Crichton-Brownecalls them“a
group of now-anonymous patients” as beyond how they looked and the diagnostic
label written on their photographs nothing else had been known of them. In her
essay Stassa featured four photographs from the Wellcome Library and the reader
could be forgiven for thinking that they had been among those shared in the
correspondence between Crichton-Browne and Darwin. Those four Wellcome Library photographs
are certainly of WRPLA patients but I cannot find any evidence to suggest that
they were actually sent to Charles Darwin. If they were, why are they not part
of the DCP collection?William
Schupbach of the Wellcome Library has kindly confirmed the provenance of the
photographs which were purchased at Sotheby's sale in London on 6th November,
1987. They had been put up for auction by descendants of Dr Henry Clarke to
whom the photographs were attributed. In 1987 Henry was said, incorrectly, to have
been Medical Superintendent of the West Riding Asylum, Wakefield.So
was Henry Clarke responsible for taking the portraits in the Wellcome
collection? Laura Sellers of the University of Leeds has previously pointed out
to Wellcome that Henry Clarke did not arrive in Wakefield until early 1876 to
take up the position of Chief Medical Officer of the West Riding Prison and
Convict Centre. While he did collaborative research with the WRPLA in the late
1870s he was never employed there.

The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer of 17th December, 1875 carried a brief article
telling us more about Henry Clarke’s background.Henry Clarke had become a registered doctor in December, 1874 having
studied medicine for the previous six years at Guy’s Hospital in London. There
is nothing known to connect him with Wakefield ahead of him taking up his post
at the House of Correction in early 1876. That is important as my research into
the Asylum case notes has shown that twelve of the thirteen Wellcome
photographs had been taken between 1871 and 1873 so it is safe to conclude that
Henry Clarke was not the photographer.James Crichton-Browne was Asylum Superintendent at the time those photographs
were taken. While he may or may not have actually operated the camera it was he
who had first introduced the use of photography in the Asylum, possibly as
early as 1868, and he would almost certainly have selected the patients to be
photographed. It is wholly appropriate that Wellcome Library now attribute the
photographs to Crichton-Browne.It is time that the “anonymous” photographs held by
Wellcome Library become those of proper people as they were simply real folk
struggling to cope with their mental illness and should not remain nameless
exhibits from our archives. Let me first introduce you to the four patients who
all featured in Stassa's essay. Their photographs are reproduced here courtesy
of the Wellcome Library, London.

Ellen SUTCLIFFE, 1873
Imbecility

Twenty
six year old Ellen SUTCLIFFE from Wheatley, Ovenden near Halifax had been
admitted to the Asylum in April, 1865 from Halifax workhouse. She was married
to dyer Aaron and they had two children. William
Alexander had examined Ellen ahead of her committal and recorded the following
observations to support the case for her being considered a lunatic.That she is whining and crying out "Oh
Dear". That she fails to reply to my enquiries, that she is desponding and
now crying out loudly for her father. That Mrs Haigh tells me she has been
obliged to confine her in the padded room at the Workhouse, that she attempted
to throw herself and infant out of the window a week ago.Ellen's photograph was taken in 1873.In July, 1884 Ellen was dancing in the main hall of
the Asylum when she had a seizure. Carried to bed she died shortly afterwards.

John Edward GARTSIDE, 1872
Consecutive Dementia

Nineteen
year old bachelor John Edward GARTSIDE, a warehouseman from Roughtown, Mossley
near Manchester was admitted to the Asylum in March, 1872.John
Edward’s insanity was indicated by “tearing his clothes also bedclothes.
Attempting to strangle his mother.” He also “interrupted the service of the
School Church by his incoherent manner”.John
Edward’s case notes suggest that his photograph was taken in July the same year.He
was discharged recovered in July, 1874.

Mary KEIGHLEY, 1873
Chronic Mania

Thirty
two year old Mary KEIGHLEY, a married mill hand from Bradford was admitted in
May, 1863 suffering from mania. She is very restless and cannot sleep at night roams about the house all day talks all sorts of nonsense. Says she sees the Catholic Bishop with woman up stairs and other men with various women all which are false.In Mary’s case notes her photograph is dated 1873.Mary would spend the rest of her life in the Asylum. She passed away in June, 1896 and was interred at St Peter’s
Parish Church, Stanley.
﻿

William HARDACSTLE, 1872
Mono-mania of Pride

William
HARDCASTLE, was a 42 year old married labourer from Commercial Street, Morley
admitted in November, 1871.Several
weeks earlier he had been knocked unconscious by a blow to the head from
another man. His behaviour since had been erratic but it was his “doing his
family duty” by beating his wife “for her own good” that appears to have
triggered his committal to the Asylum.William
was discharged recovered in June, 1872 shortly after this photograph was taken.Nine
more WRPLA patients’ photographs are held by the Wellcome Library. Here are
brief extracts from their case notes and reception paperwork the originals of which
are held by WYAS in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Mary SHAW, 1871
Simple Mania

Admitted
in November, 1870 Mary SHAW was a married 35 year old from Lower Hanover
Street, Leeds. During her six years of marriage she had given birth to four
children. Three had died at the age of two years. Six weeks earlier her
new-born baby had died aged just one week old.Mary had said she would "send her husband to Gaol then get a velvet dress and have a second husband" probably inspired by the black eye he had given her.Despite
an attack of pneumonia by the following spring she was in good health. Mary was
discharged in September, 1871, just one day after her photograph had been taken.

Emma PAGE, 1873
Mono-mania of Pride

Emma
PAGE was a 36 year old widow from Lockwood near Huddersfield when admitted to
the Asylum in May, 1866.Emma
suffered from delusions. She believed that all her food was poisoned, and that
persons, including her brother, would enter her locked house and steal her
documents and valuable property. The Queen of England and the Emperor of France
were going to ensure that she took possession of large properties which she had
in India and America.This
photograph of Emma was taken in 1873. Her case notes also contain an undated
picture of a much older Emma. She was still wearing her hair in ringlets.Emma
remained in the Asylum until her death in July, 1911 from tuberculosis. She was
81 years old.

Ellen FOLEY, 1873
Acute Melancholia

Twenty
two year old mill hand Ellen FOLEY from Reform Street, Bradford was admitted in
May, 1861.Her
earliest case note states that Ellen was suffering from “mania characterised by
her excited manners – talking and laughing and wandering about the ward
breaking the windows”.There
would be no improvement in Ellen’s mental health and in 1873 her physician
described her as being “almost completely demented”. Her photograph was taken
that same year.Ellen
was transferred to the South Yorkshire Asylum, Wadsley near Sheffield in 1875
from where she was discharged four years later showing no improvement in her
mental condition.Curiously,
her case notes make no mention of acute melancholia, the annotation on her
Wellcome Library photograph.

Sarah THACKRAY, 1873
Consecutive Dementia

When
46 year old spinster Sarah THACKRAY from York Road, Leeds was admitted in
January, 1871 it was her fourth visit to the Asylum. It would also be her last.Her
committal paperwork records observations made by surgeon Frederick Holmes who
had examined Sarah the previous day.She is constantly alarmed, restless, violent and
excited. Talks wildly and incoherently and believes that those about her wish
to rob her of her fortune and birthright.This
photograph of Sarah is dated 1873.Sarah’s
delusions persisted throughout the next 24 years only being brought to an end
by her death in June, 1895 from chronic disease of her heart and kidneys.

Nancy FARRAR, 1873
Senile Dementia

Nancy
FARRAR, a 45 year old single mill hand from Horbury, was admitted to the Asylum
in June, 1852. She was said to have been suffering from melancholia for about
12 months.This
photograph of Nancy was taken in 1873 when she would have been 66 years old.
She is the earliest admitted patient in the Wellcome Library collection.In
August that year her physician wrote:Patient is getting much thinner though her
mental condition is unchanged. She is under the impression that everyone about
wishes to injure her and that she is consumed by the fire inside her.Nancy’s
health deteriorated with age and she passed away in the Asylum in June, 1886.

Elizabeth HARDCASTLE, 1872
General Paralysis of the Insane

Elizabeth
HARDCASTLE was a 40 year old domestic servant from Bramley when admitted to the
Asylum in April, 1872. Her photograph was taken two months later.The
Relieving Officer for Bramley provided Elizabeth’s recent history:Patient has always been a weak minded woman but
for the last two years her mind has become more effected. Since then she has
been at one time violent, at another low spirited. She has been for fourteen
years in the Workhouse not having had strength of mind to earn her own living.
About three days ago she struck a man, swore she would commit murder and
refused to do any more work.Elizabeth
would spend six years in the Asylum before being discharged relieved in July,
1878. Nowhere in her case notes is there any suggestion that she was suffering
from General Paralysis of the Insane, the annotation on her photograph.

Peter FITZSIMONS, 1872
Mania of Suspicion

Only
one photograph appears in both the Wellcome Library and DCP collections being
that of Peter FITZSIMONS, a 50 year old married joiner from Rock Street, Leeds.
Peter was admitted to the Asylum in March, 1872.

Leeds
Union physician Frederick Hall presented the following opinion having examined
Peter before his committal.Talks in a rambling discursive style. Has
exaggerated ideas of his wealth and position. Imagines that he has been
insulted and ill-treated. Says that for the last 2 years he has been unable to
retain a situation owing to the confused state of his mind and that he has
frequently contemplated committing suicide. Appearance and manner generally
that of a weak-minded person.Peter
was photographed in July, 1872.Initially
Peter worked steadily in the carpenter’s shop at the Asylum but from the end of
1872 his health slowly deteriorated. His death in April 1874 was recorded as
caused by General Paralysis of the Insane, tertiary syphillis, of three years
duration.

Charles GOULDTHORPE, 1872
Organic Dementia

Charles GOULDTHORPE was a 51 year old married labourer from Attercliffe Road, Sheffield when admitted in June, 1872. His photograph is dated that same month.He was accompanied to the Asylum by a police officer who had this to say:

Patient has been in the workhouse about a fortnight and while there was at times depressed and refused his food and at other times excited. At times he has been very suicidally inclined but it is not known whether he has made any direct attempt on his life. He is thought to have been a steady and sober man. Nothing is known of his family history. The present attack is said to have lasted 6 weeks, but no reliable information can be obtained.In November, 1872 Charles was removed to the recently opened South Yorkshire Ayslum at Wadsley near Sheffield. He passed away there in November the following year.

William WILKINSON, c 1872
Melancholia

Twenty eight year old William WILKINSON, a married joiner from Leeds was admitted in October, 1866. His "vacant looks and incoherent conversation" were reported as evidence of his insanity together with "his inability to attend to his occupation from mental incapacity".In feeble health he was assessed as suffering from dementia. Within two months both his mental and physical health had improved and William had been set to work at his trade in the Carpenter's Shop. By April, 1875 there had been no improvement in his mental condition and there was concern over his deteriorating respiration.William left the Asylum that same month when he was "discharged at the urgent request of his friends".While
we do not yet know who annotated the Wellcome Library collection of photographs
and how they got into the hands of Henry Clarke at least they are no
longer of anonymous individuals. They were proper people with families and now
we know their names, how old they were, where they had lived, why they were in
the Asylum and what had become of them. There is much more to learn about each
of them beyond the brief thumbnail sketches included in this article but I do
hope that I have inspired more of you to have a dig around in your local asylum
archives. You never know who or what you might find.